- 26 oct 2011
Occupation is planning to build one million housing units in ten years
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- It was revealed that the Israeli occupation ministry of interior plans to build one million settlement housing units over the next ten years, which means a huge leap in settlement and Judaization.
This was revealed in a statement on Tuesday by the Zionist interior minister, Eli Yishai, of the Shas , during the meeting of the "national housing committee" in occupied Jerusalem.
He said that over the span of the next decade more than a million housing units will be built in a new settlement project that his ministry is considering.
He further explained that the project was the occupation government's answer to the housing crisis and to absorb new waves of Jewish immigrants which the occupation government plans to bring.
http://fwd4.me/0fi0
Israel may lose German sub deal
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's frustration over new east Jerusalem housing plans may jeopardize Israel's chances of getting new Dolphin class submarine.
Germany is "reconsidering" its decision to sell Israel a sixth Dolphin class submarine, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, the move was prompted by the tensions between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Merkel's frustration over the new housing plans approved in east Jerusalem.
Top political sources said that Merkel was irked with Netanyahu, who "gave her the impression that he would be willing to suspend settlement expansion in order to push the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks."
Israel's recent approval of 1,100 housing units in the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem led Merkel to announce that Netanyahu "cannot be taken seriously and has no intention of complying with the basic terms needed to renew the negotiations with the Palestinian."
Merkel and Netanyahu shared strident words following the decisions, and relations between Jerusalem and Berlin have been strained since.
Disconcerting trend
Defense officials expressed concern over Berlin's intention to suspend and possibly cancel the submarine sale: According to foreign media reports, the new Dolphin was slated to join Israel strategic fleet.
Earlier in 2011, Germany announced that it would grant Israel a €135 million aid package to build its sixth submarine. German funding has been a significant part in the creation of the Israeli Navy's submarine crops.
The Navy currently has three Dolphin class submarines, and is expected to receive two new ones, currently under construction in Germany. According to foreign media sources, the new submarines will be equipped to carry nuclear warheads.
The deal was originally approved by former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, despite initial concerns that such ballistic capabilities may upset the nuclear balance in the region.
Senior defense officials refused to comment directly, saying only that "The subject of the sixth submarine is currently being negotiation between the (Israeli and German) governments. It is inappropriate to hash the matter out in the media."
The Prime Minister's Office was unavailable for comment.
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Saudi Arabia excludes Alstom company from Haramain Railway
RIYADH, (PIC)-- Saudi Arabia excluded the French company Alstom from the Haramain train project that would link Makkah and Medina following a popular European pressure campaign against this company’s participation in the project.
The Saudi Railroad said that the second stage of the project would be carried out by a consortium of Saudi and Spanish companies.
The European campaign under the name of “Dignity” urged Riyadh not to accord the project to Alstom due to its participation in Judaization projects in occupied Jerusalem.
http://fwd4.me/0fi5 7 jan 2012, 23:44 , Respect -
Maria 27 oct 2011
US: Freeze settlement construction to help hinder PA bid
US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro tells Interior Minister Eli Yishai about Washington's great efforts in UN against Palestinian statehood bid; stresses Israel must stop construction plans to help cause.
The United States Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro met Thursday with Interior Minister Eli Yishai, and informed him that the US has been making efforts to battle the Palestinian statehood bid submitted to the United Nations.
Shapiro stressed that if Israel chooses to suspend construction in the West Bank settlements, Washington would then have an easier time in its attempts to hinder the Palestinian process.
The ambassador requested that Yishai avoid any embarrassments on the issue, to which Yishai replied that the Shas Party would not be able to support a settlement freeze.
The interior minister argued that Shapiro was not only demanding Israel halt settlement construction, but also stop any future plans to do so, something Yishai explained they were unable to support.
Shapiro told Yishai that every time Israeli approves construction plans in the settlements, the Europeans direct their complaints at the US.
In the wake of its deteriorating international status and the Palestinian independence bid at the UN, Benjamin Netanyahu's government is expected to push forward plans to build 4,000 housing units in the area of Givat Hamatos in southern Jerusalem, Ynet learned on Monday.
According to the itinerary of the Jerusalem District Housing and Planning Committee, which operates under the Interior Ministry, on December 8th committee members will discuss objections to the establishment of parts B and C of the neighborhood, which is slated to include about 1,400 housing units.
http://fwd4.me/0fjH 7 jan 2012, 23:44 , Respect -
Maria 1 nov 2011
Abu Rudeineh: Israeli Decision to Build 2000 Housing Units Destroys Peace
RAMALLAH, (WAFA) - Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that the Israeli government's decision to build 2000 new housing units in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, will accelerate the destruction of the peace process.
He told WAFA that “the talk about freezing PA’s funds is a provocation to our people and a theft of their money, as well as it aborts the efforts of the Quartet to re-launch the peace process.”
He said that the settlement activities are still ongoing and did not stop, neither before accepting Palestine as a full member in UNESCO, nor after it. It is only an Israeli pretext.
He said that preventing representatives from the UNESCO from entering the Palestinian Territory and Israel, in case it was announced there are Palestinian archaeological sites that must be preserved, is an obstruction to the United Nations’ humanitarian and cultural role and a violation of the international law.
He called on “the international Quartet and the U.S. administration to put an end to such practices, which will have negative consequences on the entire region.”
Israeli ministerial council decided Tuesday, in its 8th session, to hasten building new housing units in East Jerusalem, in Gush Etzion and Ma'ale Adumim settlements, in response to accepting Palestine in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a full member.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu issued an order to hasten the building of new 2000 housing units in the areas Israel claims will remain under its control in case a deal is reached with the Palestinians, as well as to study the possibility of building new housing units in far away settlements, from which Israel is to withdrawal in case of reaching a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17929
Israel to expedite settlement construction in response to Palestinian UNESCO membership
Netanyahu and top ministers decide to impose sanctions on Palestinian Authority after it was accepted to UN cultural body; Palestinians slam decision as 'destructive to peace process' and 'inhumane.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his forum of eight senior ministers decided Tuesday to initiate a new wave of settlement construction in the West Bank, as part of a wider set of sanctions Israel decided to impose on the Palestinian Authority after it was accepted to UNESCO as a member on Monday.
Netanyahu's office said Tuesday that the construction of 2,000 housing units planned in East Jerusalem, Gush Etzion, and Ma'aleh Adumim should be expedited.
"All of the mentioned areas are ones that would remain in Israeli control under any future peace agreement," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
The eight senior ministers also decided to suspend the transfer of tax money which Israel has collected for the Palestinian Authority in October. The money, which amounts to more than NIS 300 million, was supposed to be transferred to the Palestinian Authority before the Eid al-Adha holiday, when the money was to be used to pay the salaries of policemen and clerks of the Palestinian Authority.
During Tuesday's discussion, an argument erupted between Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Defense Minister Ehud Barak about whether to permanently halt the transfer of tax money to the PA. Barak maintained that halting the tax money transfer will jeopardize the future of the security coordination with the Palestinians in the West Bank, while Steinitz supported the move.
Moreover, the eight ministers also decided to no longer allow UNESCO missions into Israel, and to examine the possibility of revoking the VIP status of senior Palestinian officials which allows them to pass through checkpoints.
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responded to the decision on Tuesday, saying that Israel had decided "to speed up the destruction of the peace process" by deciding to accelerate the construction of settlements on land where the Palestinians aim to found an independent state.
Nabil Abu Rdainah also described as "inhumane" Israel's decision to temporarily halt transfers of funds to the Palestinian Authority.
On Monday, UNESCO accepted the Palestinian Authority as a full member of the organization.
In response, the U.S. decided to cut off funding to the UN cultural body. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Monday that since the vote triggered a long-standing congressional restriction on funding to UN bodies that recognize Palestine as a state before an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is reached.
Following the vote on Palestinian membership, Israel also warned it will now reconsider its cooperation with UNESCO.
UNESCO is the first UN agency that the Palestinians sought to join as a full member since Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas applied for full membership of the United Nations on Sept. 23.
The motion to admit the Palestinians was passed at a UNESCO meeting in Paris, with 107 votes in favor, 14 against and 52 abstentions.
The United States, Canada and Germany voted against Palestinian membership. Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa and France voted in favor. Britain abstained.
http://fwd4.me/0g1d 7 jan 2012, 23:44 , Respect -
Maria 2 nov 2011
Netanyahu speeds settlement expansion after UNESCO's call
NAZARETH, (PIC)-- In a punitive response to the Palestinians' successful bid to join UNESCO, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu issued orders on Tuesday to accelerate settlement construction in occupied Jerusalem, and Gush Etzion and Ma'ale Adumim settlements.
A spokesman for Netanyahu claimed that the projects would include the building of 2,000 housing units in the areas that would remain within Israel's borders if any future peace agreement took place.
In the same context, the Israeli government also imposed economic sanctions on the Palestinian authority (PA) in response to what it considered a unilateral step taken by the PA in the UNESCO.
The Israeli government decided, in a meeting chaired by Netanyahu during this week, to halt the transfer of tax revenues, hundreds of millions of shekels, which it collects on behalf of the PA.
http://fwd4.me/0g3X
Islamic Cooperation Condemns Israel's New Settlements Plan
JEDDA, (WAFA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Wednesday condemned the Israeli government's decision to hasten building 2000 housing units in East Jerusalem, according to a press release.
PIC Secreary-General, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, said the decision revealed Israel's intentions and lack of seriousness in moving forward with a real peace process based on the two-state solution.
The Israeli government's order also indicated Israel's failure and arrogance in facing the international community's support to the Palestinian right to statehood, after the United Nations body, UNESCO, granted Palestine full membership.
Ihsanoglu warned from dangerous and serious implications of the Israeli evasiveness in engaging the peace process, as well as its continuous challenge of international will.
In a related matter, Ihsanoglu stressed total OIC support to Palestinian efforts to gain full UN membership of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17930 7 jan 2012, 23:44 , Respect -
Maria 2 nov 2011
Israeli settlements violate Intl. law
(6:42) Israeli settlements violate Intl. law
Israel has defied international criticism of its settlement expansion plan in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, regarding it as its fundamental right.
Israel has announced it will construct 2,000 additional settler units in the occupied territories.
The announcement came after UNESCO's General Assembly voted to accept Palestine as a full member state.
Several Western countries have condemned Tel Aviv's new settlement plan as illegal, considering it a serious threat to peace efforts in the Middle East.
Press TV has interviewed with Mukhaimer Abu Saada, professor of political science at al-Azhar University, to share his opinion on this issue.
Following is the text of the interview:
Press TV: Israel accelerating its settlements, building activities on Palestinian land have said it is the right and obligation. Does it have the right to build the settlements?
Abu Saada: Even though Israel is saying that the building of 2,000 settlement units in east Jerusalem and the West Bank is a fundamental Israeli right that comes after the UNESCO has accepted Palestine as a full member in the organization and it comes as a part of Israeli punishment against the Palestinian and the Palestine Liberation organization for going to the UN and UNESCO for membership.
Now Israeli settlement expansion in the Palestinian territories is not new. It dates back to the occupation of Palestinian territories in 1967 after Israel occupied the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip after that war. Now Israeli settlement expansion not just defies international law and international legitimacy, it is a contradiction with international law, with fourth Geneva Convention which basically classifies the Palestinian territories as occupied territories and prohibits Israel, the occupying country from any demographic changes in those occupied territories and what Israel is basically doing is trying to empty those Palestinian territories from its inhabitants, the Palestinian people and plant Israeli Jewish settlers in those territories to change the demographic character of those Palestinian territories.
Now yesterday an Israeli nongovernmental organization has accused Israel of war crimes because of its settlements expansion and because of its house demolition against the Palestinians in east Jerusalem.
Press TV: Well, to put it into perspective for us then what is this decision mean for the so-called peace talk with the Palestinian Authority?
Abu Saada: There is no such thing called peace talks right now. Yes, the Palestinians negotiated with Israel for almost 20 years since the convening of the Madrid peace conference in 1991 but there has been no peace negotiations between the Palestinian and the Israelis for the past two and a half years very much, since Netanyahu came to office, the peace process has reached a deadlock as a result of the Israeli aggression, as a result of Israeli defiance of international law and Israel defiance of the basic peace principles, the principle land for peace.
Netanyahu has instead of entering into serious peace negotiations with the Palestinians, has accelerated settlement expansion and also refuses any international reference to the peace negotiations with the Palestinians and what make things even worse, he has been asking the Palestinian leadership to recognize Israel as a Jewish state which will give Israel the right to get rid of 1.5 million Palestinians who live inside historic Palestine.
Therefore, there is no peace negotiation right now and what is Israel talking about and the US that recognizing Palestine as a state and accepting Palestine in the UNESCO is counterproductive to peace. There is no peace negotiation right now unless Netanyahu and his government commit itself to the principles of international law, to the United Nations Security Council resolution, there will be no peace negotiations with Israel and the Palestinian leadership has made it clear. They are not going back to negotiating while Israel is expanding its settlement activity in the Palestinian occupied territories.
Press TV: And quickly if you can, those reports that came out earlier that talked about Mahmoud Abbas how he has been away not having too much faith in the Palestinian Authority altogether giving the setbacks that have happened as you mentioned in the past 20 years. How does that portray Mahmoud Abbas in the bigger picture in terms of even being viable to have negotiations with Israel? Would that happen and of course is there the question comes about that this places emphasis and a focus on Hamas?
Abu Saada: Even though the President Mahmoud Abbas has been emphasizing that peace is the Palestinians first choice, second choice and third choice, even that position with regard to this has some kind of, the Israeli government is not considering that as partner for peace. The Israelis are calling for the removal of President Mahmoud Abbas as he is no partner to peace.
So imagine if the Palestinian president is talking about dismantling the Palestinian Authority or referring to more measures against Israel like talking about economic boycott against Israel, Israel will save no time to get rid of the Palestinian moderate leadership. Israel is interested in keeping its control or the Palestinian territories is interested in building more settlements to change the demographic factor in those territories and Israel has no interest whatsoever in allowing the Palestinians to have their own independent and sovereign state in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
So it seems to me that no matter what the Palestinians President Mahmoud Abbas is saying, no matter what he is doing, that is not good for the Israelis. They are looking for a leader who is ready to give up on Palestine and to give up on the equal rights for the Palestinian people.
Jordan Condemns Israeli Decision to Expedite Settlements
AMMAN/JORDAN, (WAFA) – Jordan condemned on Wednesday the Israeli decision to expedite settlement activities and to withhold the P’s tax revenues in response to Palestine accession to UNESCO, considering this response unacceptable, according to an official.
Spokesman for the Jordanian foreign ministry, Mohammed Al-Kayed, told Jordan News Agency (PETRA) that “this Israeli escalation forms a strike against international efforts aiming to achieve Palestinian - Israeli peace and a flagrant challenge to the efforts of the international quartet committee aiming to resume negotiations.”
He called on Israel to stop these provocative and unilateral measures practiced in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including E.ast Jerusalem, describing them as entirely illegitimate.
He also called on Israel to engage in concrete steps to achieve the two-state solution through serious and specified and clear time frame negotiations that will lead to establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders , with East Jerusalem as its capital and in accordance with international terms of reference.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17947
Ashton: Israeli Settlement Activity is Illegal and Obstacle to Peace
BRUSSELS, (WAFA) - European Union foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton said that “Israeli settlement activity is illegal under international law including in East Jerusalem and an obstacle to peace,” in a press release issued by the European Union on Wednesday.
“We have stated this many times before,” Ashton added, “I am deeply concerned by the latest Israeli decisions to expedite settlement activities in response to Palestine accession to UNESCO.”
She called on “Israel to reverse this decision and call on both sides to continue their engagement with the Quartet on advancing peace efforts.”
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17943
US, EU condemn Israeli settlement moves
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The United States is expected to voice deep disappointment at Israel's speeding up of settlement building following UNESCO's decision to grant full membership to the Palestinians, a US official said on Wednesday.
"(We are) deeply disappointed by the announcement," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, referring to Israel's decision on Tuesday to accelerate construction of some 2,000 housing units in eastern Jerusalem and on the West Bank.
The Palestinians are looking to establish a state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, land Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East War.
"We continue to make our opposition clear to the (Israeli) government (that) unilateral actions such as these work against efforts to resume direct negotiations and do not advance the goal of a reasonable and necessary agreement between the parties," the official added.
The European Union also expressed "deep concern" on Wednesday about Israel's decision to speed up settlement activity.
"We call on Israel to reverse this decision and call on both sides to continue their engagement with the Quartet on advancing peace efforts," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement, adding that settlement building was against international law.
Acting after the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization voted on Monday to accept the Palestinians as full members, Israel also decided temporarily to halt transfers of revenues that it collects for the Palestinians.
The US official noted that cutting off such revenues hurt the efforts of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to build the institutions of a Palestinian state, including security forces that have helped to maintain the peace.
On Tuesday, the Palestinian presidency said Israel had decided "to speed up the destruction of the peace process" by accelerating settlement building and described the decision to temporarily halt transfers of funds as "inhumane."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/DailyNews.aspx
US deeply disappointed by Israeli settlement moves
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The United States is expected to say it is "deeply disappointed" by Israel's acceleration of settlement building after UNESCO's vote to give full membership to the Palestinians, a US official said on Wednesday.
"(We are) deeply disappointed by the announcement," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, saying that the Obama administration continued to make clear its opposition to such steps to the Israeli government.
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France Condemns Israeli Settlement Expansion Plan
PARIS, (WAFA) – The French government Wednesday condemned an Israeli cabinet decision to accelerate the construction of 2000 housing units in West Bank settlements in response to Palestine’s admission to UNESCO.
A foreign ministry spokesman told Agence France Presse that France, which shock everyone on Monday when it voted in favor of UNESCO seat for Palestine, was also very concerned over the Israeli government’s discussion regarding the possibility of freezing taxes and customs revenues Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17942
Britain Condemns Israeli Decision to Accelerate Settlements
LONDON, (WAFA) – The British government Wednesday condemned an Israeli decision to escalate settlement expansion in the West Bank.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague described in a statement the Israel inner cabinet announcement to accelerate the construction of 2,000 housing units in West Bank settlements in response to the successful Palestinian application for membership of UNESCO as “a serious blow to the Quartet’s efforts to restart peace negotiations.”
He said that the “settlement building program is illegal under international law and is the latest in a series of provocative and unhelpful settlement announcements. I condemn the decision to accelerate such construction.”
The Quartet, composed of the European Union, the United States, Russia and the United Nations, has called on Palestinians and Israel to refrain from taking “provocative actions” that would obstruct efforts to revive direct negotiations.
“I am also very concerned about Israel’s decision to withhold Palestinian tax revenues,” said Hague. “This is in no-one’s interests, least of all Israel’s, since it has direct implications for the Palestinian Authority’s ability to maintain effective security in the West Bank,” he said.
“We need to see steps towards peace, not actions that divide and isolate the parties further and undermine the prospects for negotiations. We call on Israel to reverse both these decisions, and on both sides to show the courage and leadership necessary to achieve a return to negotiations,” he said.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17940 7 jan 2012, 23:44 , Respect -
Maria 3 nov 2011
Netanyahu: Settlement build 'not punishment'
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that his government's decision to accelerate settlement building was Israel's fundamental right, not punishment for the Palestinians joining UNESCO.
The Israeli cabinet approved the building of some 2,000 homes in Maale Adummim, Efrat and East Jerusalem settlements on Tuesday after UNESCO voted to accept Palestine as a full member in the cultural agency.
"We build in Jerusalem because it is our right and our obligation; not as punishment but as a basic right of our people to build its eternal capital," Netanyahu told members of parliament on Wednesday.
"Jerusalem will never return to the state it was in on the eve of the Six Day War," Netanyahu said, denying that the settlement plan could be construed as punitive.
But the decision to speed up settlement construction was described by a senior Israeli government official, who spoke to AFP on Tuesday, as "punishment after the vote at UNESCO."
Israel will also suspend the transfer to the Palestinian Authority of duties it levies on imports to the territories, the cabinet statement said.
East Jerusalem was captured by Israeli forces in 1967 and annexed in a move not recognized by the international community.
Israel insists the whole city constitutes its "eternal, indivisible capital," but Palestinian officials say East Jerusalem must be the capital of the future Palestinian state.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=434990
Israel's settlement building and revenue freezing plan is 'unacceptable'
The Israeli government must halt plans to expand construction in illegal settlements in the West Bank and stop proposals to suspend the transfer of taxes to the Palestinian Authority, Amnesty International said today.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to accelerate construction in settlements in East Jerusalem and major settlement blocs in the West Bank yesterday. The Israeli government has also said it intends to freeze monthly transfers of tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA.
The Israeli plans announced yesterday include the construction of 2,000 housing units in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, Ma’aleh Adumim and the Gush Etzion bloc. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office stated that these areas “will, under any future agreement, remain part of Israel.”
The Israeli authorities also announced they intend to stop the transfer of revenue collected on behalf of the PA, a move that effectively suspends salaries for public workers in the West Bank. This could jeopardise Palestinians’ access to essential services, including health and education. The move follows announcements last month on settlement construction in Gilo and plans for a new settlement called Givat Hamatos.
These latest moves came after the UN cultural organisation UNESCO admitted Palestine as a member on Monday.
Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director Philip Luther said:
"By announcing these plans, the Israeli government appears to be responding to the Palestinian Authority's recent bids for international recognition by entrenching illegal settlements.
"These moves are unacceptable and could result in further violations of the rights to adequate housing and livelihoods in Palestinian communities near the settlements.
“Suspending the transfer of tax revenues will directly affect the Palestinian Authority’s ability to provide essential services throughout the West Bank, as well as salaries and other support provided to people in Gaza.
“Far from expediting construction in settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the Israeli authorities must immediately halt this expansion as a first step towards removing illegal Israeli settlements from the Occupied Palestinian Territories once and for all.
“The Quartet and in particular the USA should urge Israel to stop its settlement policy."
The UNESCO membership bid was part of a major diplomatic effort by the PA and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to secure wider recognition of a Palestinian state and an upgraded status at the UN. While UNESCO's decision to grant Palestinian membership had wide international support, the US government joined Israel in opposing the move and subsequently cut its funding of the UN body.
Amnesty has repeatedly called for an immediate end to the construction and expansion of settlements and related infrastructure in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The Israeli government violates international law by establishing and retaining civilian settlements in the territories. When an occupying power has a formal policy of transferring parts of its civilian population onto occupied territory, it amounts to a war crime, and can be taken up for investigation by the International Criminal Court. Israel’s settlement policy is also inherently discriminatory and perpetuates violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including infringing their rights to adequate housing, water and livelihoods.
http://fwd4.me/0g8X 7 jan 2012, 23:45 , Respect -
Maria 4 nov 2011
Israeli authorities intend to commence Al-Bustan demolitions
Silwanic has learnt that Israeli authorities intend to commence their heavily-criticised program of demolition in Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan in the coming weeks. Authorities seek to clear vast swathes of Palestinian homes and property to make way for a “biblical garden” as part of the City of David settlement project.
The Jerusalem Municipality has been trying to market the biblical park project since 2005, promoting Al-Bustan as the original site of King Solomon’s park. “Al-Bustan”, which can be translated as “the garden” in Arabic, has been cited as conclusive evidence. Palestinian residents of Al-Bustan, however, state that the Arabic word has several meanings, and cannot be corrupted to the Municipality’s ends.
The history of Al-Bustan’s name is tied to the greenness of the land on which the area was built, thanks to its source of fresh water the remain throughout the year. Al-Bustan was historically known as the food basket of Jerusalem. Experts state that the concept of “park” – a small cultivated area – is incompatible with the true meaning of “Bustan”.
Prior to the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, few houses were built in the Al-Bustan area. But more land was annexed by the state – 73,000 dunums to the east and several hundred to the south-west of Silwan. The population densified, and increased – while in 1967 Silwan had 13,000 inhabitants, today it numbers at 55,000, none of whom can now apply to the Municipality for a construction permit.
Mousa Audeh, a member of the Al-Bustan Popular Committee, stated that “the Israeli Authority claims that Al-Bustan was the garden of King Solomon, and that the prophet David lived in Wadi Hilweh – and somehow this justifies the demolition of our homes? But it’s easy to see that the Municipality, together with the settler groups, demolish homes freely – in the name of the prophets, as if God almighty grants property contracts only to them!”
Silwanic has learnt that Israeli authorities intend to commence their heavily-criticised program of demolition in Al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan in the coming weeks. Authorities seek to clear vast swathes of Palestinian homes and property to make way for a “biblical garden” as part of the City of David settlement project.
The Jerusalem Municipality has been trying to market the biblical park project since 2005, promoting Al-Bustan as the original site of King Solomon’s park. “Al-Bustan”, which can be translated as “the garden” in Arabic, has been cited as conclusive evidence. Palestinian residents of Al-Bustan, however, state that the Arabic word has several meanings, and cannot be corrupted to the Municipality’s ends.
The history of Al-Bustan’s name is tied to the greenness of the land on which the area was built, thanks to its source of fresh water the remain throughout the year. Al-Bustan was historically known as the food basket of Jerusalem. Experts state that the concept of “park” – a small cultivated area – is incompatible with the true meaning of “Bustan”.
Prior to the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, few houses were built in the Al-Bustan area. But more land was annexed by the state – 73,000 dunums to the east and several hundred to the south-west of Silwan. The population densified, and increased – while in 1967 Silwan had 13,000 inhabitants, today it numbers at 55,000, none of whom can now apply to the Municipality for a construction permit.
Mousa Audeh, a member of the Al-Bustan Popular Committee, stated that “the Israeli Authority claims that Al-Bustan was the garden of King Solomon, and that the prophet David lived in Wadi Hilweh – and somehow this justifies the demolition of our homes? But it’s easy to see that the Municipality, together with the settler groups, demolish homes freely – in the name of the prophets, as if God almighty grants property contracts only to them!”
http://silwanic.net/?p=21771
Egypt condemns Israel settlement building
CAIRO (Reuters) -- Egypt's foreign minister condemned Israel on Friday for its decision to expand settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, a move that is likely to delay the revival of peace talks.
Israel decided to accelerate Jewish settlement building on Tuesday, the day after UNESCO awarded the Palestinians full membership of the UN cultural agency.
"Egypt condemns the Israeli decision to accelerate the building of 1,000 units in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank," Amr Ali said in a statement.
Israel's decision was a "blow to all efforts exerted to reach a fair settlement to the conflict and Palestinian issue" and also a provocation to Palestinians.
The UNESCO decision was regarded as a diplomatic victory for the Palestinian Authority, which has pushed to be recognized as a state at the UN.
Israel called the UNESCO decision a "tragedy" and the United States said it would stop its funding of the organization.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=435205
Egypt condemns Israel settlement building
Egypt's foreign minister condemned Israel on Friday for its decision to expand Jewish settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, a move that is likely to delay the revival of peace talks.
Israel decided to accelerate Jewish settlement building on Tuesday, the day after UNESCO awarded the Palestinians full membership of the UN cultural agency.
http://fwd4.me/0gDo
Oglo condemns Israeli decision to expedite settlement building
JEDDAH, (PIC)-- Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, strongly condemned the decision by the Israeli occupation government to expedite the building of hundreds of settlement units in the West Bank.
He considered this decision an indication of "Israel’s inability and arrogance in dealing with the fact that the international community’s sided with the right of the Palestinians to an independent state when they agreed to grant Palestine full membership of the UNESCO last Monday.”
He said in a statement which was published by the information department of the OIC that the decision reflects Israel's hidden intentions which prove that it is not serious about the peace process on the basis of two states. He also warned of the negative consequences of Israel’s challenging international will, adding that Israel’s continued evasion of the peace process will lead serious developments in the region, the consequences of which will not be pleasant.
http://fwd4.me/0gBs 7 jan 2012, 23:45 , Respect -
Maria 5 nov 2011
Egypt Denounces Settlement Construction In Jerusalem
Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Kamel Amr, denounced on Friday the recent Israeli decision to construct and expand Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, and stated that this decision causes another setback to the efforts to resume the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Israeli decision was made Tuesday when the government of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, approved the speedy construction of more than 2000 units for Jewish settlers in occupied East Jerusalem, and in the West Bank.
The Israeli decision was made only one day after the UNESCO granted Palestine a full member status.
Amr said that this decision is a sharp blow to the efforts meant to ensure the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.
He further stated that the UNESCO vote is a diplomatic victory to the Palestinian Authority that is seeking full international recognition.
Its application for statehood recognition that was filed Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, in September, was sent to a UN committee which has 60 days to respond. The U.S. said it will use its veto power against it.
In other news, the Egyptian security forces stated that Egyptian border-guard policemen apprehended a number of African immigrants trying to infiltrate into Israel seeking work.
The sources said that the immigrants were arrested near border maker #9, 2 kilometers south of the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing. The immigrants said there were seeking work, and that each paid $1500 to smugglers in Sinai.
http://www.imemc.org/article/62444 7 jan 2012, 23:45 , Respect -
Maria 6 nov 2011
Zionist plan to build 60,000 settlement units in Jerusalem
NAZARETH, (PIC)-- Hebrew media sources revealed a strategic plan of the occupation municipality in Jerusalem which aims to build more than 60,000 new settler residential units in Jerusalem over the next 20 years.
Maariv said on Sunday that a Jerusalem municipality document shows that 60718 new residential unit, most of them (53,000) will be built in settlements in East Jerusalem.
According to the document, most of the land for building these units lies in East Jerusalem. 24,000 units have already been approved by the planning committee, only 3,500 of them will be built in West Jerusalem. Planning applications have been submitted for another 13,500 more units awaiting approval. Plans for another 23,266 more units are being prepared.
According to data in the document the land on which these units will be built lie in north eastern Jerusalem, such as Besgat Zeiv settlement, Nevieh Yacub settlement and Arab suburbs: Beit Hanian and Shefat, The building of more than 10,000 units will start straight away, planning permissions for half of them have already been obtained and the other half still awaiting permission.
According to municipality data, 10,934 units will be built, half of them approved and they will be built in Silwan and in the old city.
http://fwd4.me/0gJf 7 jan 2012, 23:45 , Respect -
Maria 7 nov 2011
PM to settlers: Don't build on private land
After ordering accelerated construction of 2,000 housing units in east Jerusalem and West Bank, Netanyahu tells Likud faction building must be conducted legally. Minister Steinitz: Razing immoral.
After announcing his intention to set up a team that would examine the possibility of retroactively legalizing construction in some West Bank outposts, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, "The effort should focus on bolstering the communities, not clashing with the law. It is forbidden to build on anyone's private land."
Speaking to members of his ruling Likud party, the PM said "Last week I ordered accelerated construction of 2,000 housing units – this is the best way to strengthen the (settlement enterprise). We are acting, not talking. I was pleased with the feedback I received. These territories will remain under Israel's sovereignty in any agreement.
"We must build in accordance with the law, thus strengthening the Land of Israel. There is no contradiction between the (settlement enterprise) and upholding the law," Netanyahu added.
Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar said he objects to the destruction of outposts in the West Bank because, according to him, there is "no proof of ownership and because the structures were erected by the state in good faith.
"The homes were built by the government, and destroying them would be the wrong solution," he added.
Knesset members Miri Regev and Yariv Levin also criticized Netanyahu's remarks, with Levin claiming that "judicial elements are dictating a political viewpoint that is preventing the government from governing. There is a simple solution to the problem, and the government must not destroy (outposts)."
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said during the meeting, "(The State) builds homes, a Palestinian casts doubt (over their legality) and someone petitions the High Court of Justice. It is enough that someone casts the slightest doubt for the State to become defensive and seal the communities' fate."
Netanyahu responded by saying: "Why must I destroy these homes? Is it required (from a legal standpoint)? I can offer compensation."
Steinitz continued to say that "we are making families miserable – not for a peace agreement and not for justice. It is morally and legally wrong. As someone who has researched the events at Amona – we will be subjecting ourselves to unnecessary tension and division."
MK Tzipi Hotovely told the Likud faction meeting that "the attempts to present the outposts issue as one that is related to upholding the law are misleading. It is a political issue. For the majority (of Likud faction members) razing outposts is a red line. Ten MKs said they would not vote with the government unless the outposts issue is resolved."
"We must pass a law that would legalize all the lands (in the West Bank)," Hotovely added.
Earlier Monday, a number of MKs and rabbis held a meeting during which they agreed that political pressure must be applied to prevent the razing of outpost homes.
"You are the ones who will have to carry the burden," Rabbi Dov Lior told the MKs.
Also on Monday, IDF soldiers and police officers were attacked while clearing the ruins of three illegal structures which were razed at the Oz Zion outpost. Twelve people were arrested, including seven teenagers, for hurling stones, assaulting police officers, and violating a closed military zone order.
During last week's Likud faction meeting Minister Yuli Edelstein and a number of other party members, including ministers Moshe Ya'alon, Gilad Erdan and Limor Livnat, urged the government to refrain from evacuating and razing Jewish-owned homes in the West Bank.
In accordance with its pledge to the High Court of Justice, the State is expected to begin a series of razings and evacuations at a number of outposts. Some 85 permanent housing units in Migron, Givat Assaf and Beit-El's Ulpana neighborhood are slated for destruction.
http://fwd4.me/0gMk
Jerusalem Municipality Says 86% of Next 20 Years’ Construction Will Be Across Green Line
The Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv released on Sunday a document prepared by the Jerusalem municipality revealing that the municipality will build 60,718 housing units in the next 20 years—of which 52,363, or 85%, would be in Palestinian East Jerusalem.
According to the document, of 23,628 housing units approved by the construction and organization committees, just 3,365 units will be built in West Jerusalem. The remaining 20,263 units will be across the Green Line in settlements like Pisgat Ze’ev, Neve Yaakov and Arab neighborhoods like Beit Hanina and Shu’fat, as well as settlements further outside the city like Gilo.
According to municipality data, the Old City and the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan will receive 10,934 units, half of which have been approved.
Construction across the Green Line is illegal under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Conventions, to which Israel is a signatory, prohibiting the transfer of civilian populations to occupied territories. While Israel claims the right to settle in Jerusalem as its capital, no other state in the world recognizes the legitimacy of the claim.
http://fwd4.me/0gMB
Occupation government decides to change features of Qastal
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--The Israeli occupation government approved the development plan, for Qastal on the outskirts of Jerusalem as "part of its efforts to immortalise the memory of Yitzhak Rabin the former PM on the 16th anniversary of his assassination.”
Benjamin Netanyahu said that after 16 years the government decided to develop this site as part of Rabin’s Park, to immortalise his memory and to show appreciation for the founders of the state and Rabin's role on breaking the siege on Jerusalem.
The cost of the project is 2.5 million Shekels, half of it will be paid by a settlers’ fund.
There was a battle for control of the Qastal in 1948 to break the siege on Jerusalem were around 100,000 Zionists were besieged.
http://fwd4.me/0gM1 7 jan 2012, 23:45 , Respect -
Maria 8 nov 2011
Netanyahu orders expediting settlement building in Jerusalem
NAZARETH, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the expediting of settlement building in occupied Jerusalem after the Israeli High Court ruled to dismantle some settlement outposts in the West Bank, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Tuesday.
The paper said that Likud party members criticised Netanyahu, during a party meeting, because of a high court decision ordering the dismantlement of a number of settlement outposts in the West Bank. In his reply to them he said that he ordered expediting settlement expansion in Jerusalem, Maleh Adumim and some West Bank settlement.
The paper quoted Netanyahu as saying that 2000 settlement units will be built in Israel and this is the only way to strengthen settlement in areas that will certainly remain under Israeli control in any future settlement.
He added: “We will not change our policy despite international criticism and the isolation Israel suffers from as a result of settlement, because the building is in accordance with the law.”
Hundreds of settlers demonstrated outside the high court on Tuesday afternoon to protest its decision regarding the dismantlement of a number of settlement outposts in the West Bank.
http://fwd4.me/0gSg
Tafakji: Palestinians will constitute only 12% of Jerusalem residents in 2030
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Khalil al-Tafakji, geographer at the Arab Studies Society in Jerusalem, said that the Zionist plan to build 60,000 settlement units in the next 20 years in occupied Jerusalem, aims to change the demography of the city.
In an interview with the “Sawt Falastin" newspaper on Tuesday he said that in the year 2030 according to this plan, the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem would drop to 12% and the Jewish presence would rise to 88% which means the concept of dividing Jerusalem between two states will be impossible.
He added that these settlement units will be built all over Jerusalem, in settlements built after the occupation in 1967 as well as Arab neighbourhoods to change the demographic facts of the city.
He further said that the timing of the announcement aims to direct two messages. The first message to the Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims, which says that Jerusalem is the united capital of one state; the “Jewish State”. The second message is to the international community and says that Jerusalem is the capital for all Jews in the world and that building in Jerusalem is the same as building in Tel Aviv.
He further explained that these tens of thousands of settlement units were part of plan 2020 which was prepared in 1994 , the plan has now been upgraded to plan 2030.
Maariv published a report last Sunday about Zionist plans to build 60,000 settlement units in Jerusalem.
http://fwd4.me/0gSb 7 jan 2012, 23:45 , Respect -
Maria 10 nov 2011
Israel says initiative to increase Palestinian jobs
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli officials held Wednesday an employment fair aimed at increasing the number of Palestinians working in Israel, the Israeli military announced.
The Efraim district coordination and liaison unit hosted chairmen and representatives of both the Israeli and Palestinian employment bureaus during the fair, the army said.
Israel's civil administration arranged the fair and the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Economy cooperated, the army said, adding that the purpose was to connect Israeli employers with Palestinian workers.
"The success of the employment fair will encourage us to hold additional fairs in the future, our next goal being an agriculture fair," said Maj. Sultan Hmadan, civil administration economy chief, in a statement.
The statement also said Israel made accommodations during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha to ease the criteria for Palestinians to work in Israel such as reducing the age limit from 28 to 26.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=435684 7 jan 2012, 23:45 , Respect -
Maria 13 nov 2011
88% of Jerusalem Property Tax to Settlements Expansion, says Official
RAMALLAH, (WAFA) – Ahmad Rwaidy, a consultant in the office of President Mahmoud Abbas for Jerusalem affairs, Sunday in an interview said around 88% of the property tax ('Arnona') that Israel collects in Jerusalem goes to settlement expansion and Israeli interests.
Rwaidy, talking to Voice of Palestine radio, said Israel intends to double the current Arnona as part of its ongoing policy and demographic war against the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem and to expand settlements.
The Israeli municipality of Jerusalem prosecutes any Jerusalem resident who does not pay Arnona, which accumulates to exorbitant sums that Jerusalemites cannot afford. Ultimately, in case of non-payment, the municipality puts the property to auction to facilitate takeover by Jewish groups.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17992
Israel stalling release of report proving West Bank outpost built on Palestinian land
The outpost, Derekh Ha'avot, established early 2001 and is home to about 35 families; according to report 60 percent of the community is on Palestinian farmland.
The Military Advocate General (MAG ) is delaying the publication of an internal report from a year ago which shows that most of the West Bank outpost of Derekh Ha'avot is on private Palestinian land. The report, a copy of which was obtained by Haaretz, indicates that 60 percent of the Etzion Bloc community is on Palestinian farmland.
The outpost, also known as Nativ Ha'avot, was established in early 2001 and is home to about 35 families. In 2002, the Palestinian landowners petitioned the High Court of Justice for the return of their land. A government team appointed to conduct a land ownership survey never completed its work.
In 2008, Peace Now filed a second High Court petition, through attorneys Michael Sfard and Shlomi Zachariah, again demanding the outpost's evacuation. In its response to the petition, the state said the survey team would be reestablished. In October 2010, Justice Edmond Levy rejected the petition because the survey had not been completed but wrote, "No one knows when it will be done; only time will tell."
The landowners contacted the Civil Administration repeatedly, asking about the survey's status. Zachariah received a letter from Roman Levitt of the MAG's land department last April, stating that the team was building a database of its findings and expected to conclude its work within two months. In September Levitt wrote again, saying the survey work was "at its peak."
In response to a query from Haaretz last week, the IDF Spokesperson's Office noted the complexity of the survey, which included a land-use review going back to 1969, physical surveys of the land in question and input from Survey of Israel - the government mapping agency - and said the team's work was in its "final stages."
The documents obtained by Haaretz, however, indicate that the survey was carried out in November 2010. Since then, MAG and the Civil Administration have used various excuses to avoid making it public. The survey was conducted by Malka Ofri, head of photo-interpretation at Survey of Israel, who sent the Civil Administration an opinion based on her comparison of seven aerial photos taken between 1969 and 2007.
According to West Bank law, a person earns rights to a plot of land after cultivating it for 10 successive years. Ofri wrote that for 25 years there was no significant change to the cultivation of the land in question, which constitutes 60 percent of the 1,420 dunams (350 acres ) on which Derekh Ha'avot sits, meaning that most of the outpost is on Palestinian-owned land.
Since February, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to demolish all outposts built on private Palestinian land, right-wing activists have been applying heavy pressure on him to reverse that decision. Publication of the report on Derekh Ha'avot would cause more headaches for the authorities and bring the petitioners back to the High Court.
"This case, like many others, proves there is close cooperation between the the law enforcement authorities and lawbreakers," Zachariah told Haaretz. "The state rebuffed the Derekh Ha'avot petition by saying the status of the land had to be examined. It is now clear that this was only an excuse for the state not to address the issue of illegal building. When the outcome is inconvenient for the settlers, the state does not hurry to enforce the law, and by concealing data it completes the violation of the law. The new information will find its way to the relevant judicial instances so that the court will expose the sad truth of the enforcement authorities' conduct."
http://fwd4.me/0gi6 7 jan 2012, 23:45 , Respect -
Maria 14 nov 2011
Jerusalem Municipality determined to build biblical park in Al-Bustan
Settler housing units in Ras al-Amoud district
The Jerusalem Municipality counselor has requested the District Organization Committee to speed up its implementation of the planned “King’s Park” scheme for Al-Bustan. The order comes despite the left-wing Meretz faction of Jerusalem Municipality coalition’s agreement with conservative city mayor Nir Barakat to freeze construction plans.
The King’s Park plan encompasses the construction of “biblical gardens” over vast tracts of Palestinian neighborhood Al-Bustan in Silwan, where many of the houses have been scheduled for demolition by the Municipality.
Meretz has stated that its members feel deceived by Barakat’s promises, including a statement from the mayor that there would be no home demolitions in Al-Bustan “unless the residents approve it.”
The Municipality has claimed that 88 houses in Al-Bustan are illegal under Israeli law due to the fact that they were built without permits. Many of the houses were constructed before the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967 and permits were required.
A Palestinian home occupied by settlers and since constructed over to include an additional 165 sq meters, without regulation
The population of Silwan has exploded since 1967, from approximately 13,000 (covering 12 times the land Palestinians now possess, after much was annexed by the Israeli state) to 55,000. Families have needed to expand their homes and build new ones in order to house all inhabitants. 350 Israeli settlers also live in Silwan, using 35% of the land.
Silwan’s residents view the King’s Park project as an expansion of the City of David settlement in Wadi Hilweh, in order to serve the settler agenda in the region. Settlers in Silwan hope to achieve a Jewish majority in the district.
The Jerusalem Municipality provide full support to the Elad-run City of David project, and as a rule turn a blind eye to their illegal construction and appropriation of land.
http://silwanic.net/?p=21980
Media: Israel buries 'settler outpost on Palestinian land' report
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israel's Military Advocate General is delaying the publication of a report showing an illegal settler outpost was built on lands owned by Palestinians, Israeli media reported Sunday.
The Israeli government study says 60 percent of the land of outpost Derekh Haavot was established on private land, after Palestinians petitioned an Israeli high court for the return of their property, Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
While a copy obtained by Haaretz shows the survey was conducted in November 2010, Israeli army and Civil Administration officials have since denied the survey was ready.
An Israeli judge said the case against the outpost could not proceed until the report was ready, Haaretz noted.
Derekh Haavot lies south of Bethlehem in the central West Bank, and was established in 2001 as an outpost of Israeli settlement Elazar, settlement monitoring group Peace Now says.
Families in Bethlehem-district town al-Khader say the outpost is built on their private property.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=436298 7 jan 2012, 23:46 , Respect -
Maria 15 nov 2011
Israeli housing ministry to build 5000 new housing units in OJ
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli housing and construction ministry has published tenders inviting those interested to bid for the construction of 5000 new housing units in occupied Jerusalem.
The Israeli radio said that some of the units would be built in Modi’in and Kfar Sava settlements.
It said that 750 of those units would be built in HarHoma (Jabal Abu Gunaim) and 65 in Pisgat Ze’ev.
http://fwd4.me/0gqt
Erekat Condemns Israeli Decision to Build 800Housing Units in Jerusalem
RAMALLAH, November 15, 2011 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee Member, Saeb Erekat condemned Tuesday the Israeli government’s decision to build 800 new housing units in East Jerusalem.
Erekat told WAFA, “All efforts of the Quartet, international community and the entire world to convince Israel to stop settlement activities and create a suitable atmosphere to resume negotiations have failed.”
The Israeli Ministry of Interior announced the start of marketing the construction of 750 new housing units in Gilo settlement, in East Jerusalem, and 65 housing units in Pisgat Zaev settlement.
The official Israeli radio said that the ministry of interior published a report about marketing new housing units in East Jerusalem.
The Israeli municipality prepared an official document to build 60,000 new housing units in east Jerusalem by 2020.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=18017
Israel to invite bids for 800 East Jerusalem homes
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel is to invite tenders for the construction of more than 800 new homes in two settlement neighborhoods of annexed East Jerusalem, a housing ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
Ariel Rosenberg told AFP the ministry had published formal notice of its intention to invite tenders to build 749 housing units in the southern Har Homa neighborhood, and another 65 in Pisgat Zeev in the north.
He said the tendering process, which would be launched in "a month or two," was linked to a government directive to speed up settlement construction after the UN cultural organization UNESCO voted to admit Palestine.
"It will take a month or two before the tenders will be open to offers. I imagine that in another two or three months, the winners will be chosen and after that -- another year, year and a half -- building will start," he said.
The decision to invite tenders "follows the recent government decision to speed up building in Jerusalem," he said.
On Nov. 1, Israel's inner cabinet decided to speed up the construction of homes for Jews in East Jerusalem and in other nearby settlements to punish the Palestinians for successfully joining UNESCO a day earlier.
"We will build 2,000 housing units, including 1,650 homes in east Jerusalem and the rest in the settlements of Maale Adumim and Efrat," a senior government official told AFP at the time.
Israel also decided to freeze the transfer of customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets that transit through Israeli ports, which constitute a large percentage of the Palestinian Authority's budget.
"These measures were agreed ... as punishment after the vote at UNESCO," the official said.
Both Washington and Israel opposed the UNESCO membership bid, describing it as a unilateral move which would jeopardize the chances of reviving peace negotiations.
But the decision to speed up settlement building in response drew a barrage of international condemnation led by the White House, which said it was "deeply disappointed" over Israel's reaction.
Israel occupied the eastern sector of the Holy City during the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed it in a move which was never recognized by the international community.
Since then, Israel has insisted that the whole of Jerusalem is its "eternal, indivisible capital" and does not consider construction in the east to be settlement building because the land falls within the city's municipal boundaries, which were drawn up after the 1967 war.
Palestinians regard east Jerusalem as the capital of their promised state and adamantly oppose any Israeli attempt to extend its control over the sector.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=436864
B'tselem: The Israeli gov't speeds wall construction on its borders with Egypt
NAZARETH, (PIC)-- B'Tselem center for human rights said the Israeli government accelerated the building of the huge iron wall on its borders with Egypt in the Sinai and finished about 70 kilometers of it.
B'Tselem noted, in a report published by Haaretz newspaper on Monday, that the Israeli government used so far about 12 million tons of iron during this year to build this wall.
The height of the wall is five meters which is twice the segregation wall in the West Bank, according to the report.
Of its total 240 kilometers, the wall will be extending over an area of 100 kilometers by next January, the report said.
http://fwd4.me/0goM